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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is significant about Lila Mae's status as a black woman in her occupation?

2. Who does Lila Mae find at her apartment in Down: Part One?

3. What did Grady Jr. do when he went on a movie date with Lila Mae?

4. Who does Lila Mae visit?

5. What is Lila Mae's record for accuracy?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do Jim and John tell Urich about the Black Box story?

2. Who is Natchez?

3. Who is Frank Chancre?

4. What promise does Chancre make to the press?

5. What kind of student was Lila Mae at elevator school?

6. Who is Mr. Reed?

7. What is Empiricism?

8. Who is Johnny Shush?

9. What does Natchez need Lila Mae's help with?

10. What happens at the Fanny Briggs building?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay exploring the Elevator Guild, the Institute for Vertical Transport, and the Department of Elevator Inspection. What is significant about each and how does each reflect a different manifestation of power in the city?

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay that explores the symbolic and thematic importance of the Black Box. Consider what the Box is and why it is of such interest to the powers that be in the novel. Consider also how it functions symbolically in the text as well as how it helps develop the themes.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay that explores the issue of race in the novel. How does race influence the events of the book? Why is it important that Lila Mae is a black woman?

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This section contains 550 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample